Earthworm Jim Returns

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A brand new game starring everyone's favorite machinegun-toting worm is in the works.

By Matt Casamassina

Publisher Interplay (in the process of making a comeback, it seems) on Tuesday announced that it is underway with an official sequel in the acclaimed Earthworm Jim franchise. The title, called Earthworm Jim 4, will be developed in conjunction with character creator Douglas TenNapel, who will simultaneously serve as the project's creative consultant and help launch an Earthworm Jim animated series and feature film to "expand the well-known brand."

Earthworm Jim debuted in videogame form in 1994 for the SEGA Genesis. The machinegun-brandishing worm starred in a side-scrolling 2D shoot-'em-up / platformer whose uniquely edgy style and humorous presentation, not to mention winning play mechanics, combined for a standout experience. Subsequent sequels for various platforms followed over the years.

During the late '90s, Interplay suffered a series of financial setbacks which ultimately led in 2004 to the closing of the company. However, in late 2007, after selling the Fallout intellectual property to Bethesda Software, the publisher showed signs of a re-emergence, with executives promising to use the newfound finances to reestablish Interplay as an industry player. It's clear that Tuesday's announcement is the first in a series of steps to draw upon old Interplay licenses as a foundation for the new business.

No further details regarding Earthworm Jim 4 -- target videogame platforms, release date, and so on -- were made available by Interplay's official release today.

The Interplay website now shows a "coming soon" graphic, but does not provide any other information about the company or the games it may have in development. Nor does Tuesday's news release supply contact information of any kind, which is why IGN's attempts to reach Interplay officials for additional information about Earthworm Jim 4 went unsuccessful.